Tonight’s song is very simple: a few words, repeated, sung slowly by a crowd holding hands. But it may be the most important song of the twentieth century in America.
Learn from Songs · Specials: Civil rights and hardship · A2–B1
We Shall Overcome
The anthem of the civil rights movement, sung by Mahalia Jackson: shall and will, emphatic do (I do believe), someday, and how a church song became a protest song, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
Why?
SOPHIA
Because it was sung at the marches for civil rights, when Black Americans demanded equal rights. People sang it in churches, in streets, even in prison: we shall overcome, someday.
PHILO
Like the songs of our ancestors in Egypt.
Before you listen: the song
The American South, 1945–1965
The song grew from a hymn by Charles Albert Tindley, a Black Methodist minister in Philadelphia, “I’ll Overcome Someday” (1900). In 1945, striking tobacco workers in South Carolina sang a version of it on their picket line.
At the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee, it was taught to activists; the folk singer Pete Seeger later changed “we will” to “we shall”, which he said sounded better to sing. In the 1960s it became the anthem of the civil rights movement, sung by Martin Luther King’s marchers. President Lyndon Johnson even used its words in a speech to Congress in 1965. The great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, a friend of Dr King, sang it with deep faith.
In the song, the singers say that they shall overcome, they shall walk hand in hand, they shall live in peace. They are not afraid. Deep in their hearts, they do believe.
Some songs give people courage.
Listen: the promise
PHILO
Listen once. Which words are repeated? How does the song make you feel?
SOPHIA
Then answer Section A.
✊ Listen to the song: “We Shall Overcome” (traditional, from “I’ll Overcome Someday” by Charles Albert Tindley, 1900), sung by Mahalia Jackson.Find the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “We Shall Overcome”, Mahalia Jackson.Read the lyrics →
Shall and will
MARCOS
We shall overcome. We will win. Shall we go?
SOPHIA
shall with I / we is formal, solemn or poetic: it sounds like a firm promise. will is normal. Today shall is used mostly in questions (Shall we…?), in legal rules, and in songs and speeches.
Emphatic do
DEMETRIA
I do believe. I do understand. She did try!
SOPHIA
do / does / did + infinitive in a positive sentence adds strong emphasis: I do like your idea! He did call, I promise. Stress the word do when you speak.
Someday, not afraid
PHILO
Someday we’ll be free. We are not afraid. We’ll walk hand in hand.
SOPHIA
someday = at an unknown time in the future. be afraid of + noun / -ing: I’m not afraid of the dark. hand in hand, side by side, step by step = repeated nouns.
Sophia’s comparison: Miriam’s song
PHILO
When the people of Israel crossed the sea, Miriam took a tambourine, and all the women followed her, singing: sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously. The slaves sang their freedom.
SOPHIA
And the Spartans marched into battle singing the songs of Tyrtaeus, so that every man would keep in step with his neighbour and not be afraid. A song held together is stronger than one voice.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| shall + infinitive | formal, solemn future (I / we) | We shall overcome. |
| Shall we…? | suggestion | Shall we go? |
| do / does / did + infinitive | emphasis | I do believe. |
| be afraid of | fear | We are not afraid. |
| hand in hand, side by side | repeated nouns | We’ll walk hand in hand. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. What kind of song is it?
2. Where was it sung in the 1960s?
3. What was its origin?
4. Who changed “will” to “shall”?
5. Which president used its words in a speech?
6. Who was Mahalia Jackson?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. We overcome. (solemn future)
8. we go now? (suggestion)
9. Deep in my heart, I believe. (emphatic)
10. He try, I promise! (emphatic, past)
11. We are not afraid the dark.
12. we’ll be free. (unknown future time)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “I do believe it.”
14. “We shall to overcome.”
15. “She did tried.”
16. “We’re not afraid of anything.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Emphasis. Your partner doesn’t believe you. Insist with emphatic do: I did do my homework! I do like your cooking!
Discuss. 1. Why are songs so powerful at protests and marches? 2. How did a church song become a political song? 3. What would you want to overcome?
Write (100–120 words). We shall overcome. Write about a difficulty that a group of people (a team, a family, a town) overcame together. Use shall, emphatic do, and hand in hand / side by side.
Now play the gamebook: the fishermen of the harbour, and a song that holds them together.Play the gamebook →